Ladder Health is committed to providing excellent, accessible care for the youngest and most vulnerable in our communities. Through our NICU partnerships, we are able to provide PT, OT, and SLP services immediately to families and children post-hospital discharge. Our family-focused model empowers caregivers with the tools they need to be confident in promoting a developmentally rich and stimulating home environment. 

Children who require follow-up care in infancy are not born with any regard to location of the nearest medical center. Families in every community need access to clinicians who are available and experienced in providing developmental care. The presence alone of a clinical team in a community is not sufficient if the waiting period to be seen exceeds the window of effective intervention. 

Ladder Health’s virtual-first model allows any family to connect with a pediatric PT, OT, or SLP within 48 hours. Our clinical team has an average of 15 years of experience with backgrounds in early intervention, pediatric outpatient therapy, pediatric trauma centers, and the NICU/SICC. We understand the importance and urgency of connecting children and families with the appropriate services. Many of the patients from our NICU partnerships also receive referrals for local early intervention services. Ladder Health services allow families to begin home-based virtual therapy services as they wait for entry to Child Development Service Agency (CDSA) programs, ensuring there is no delay in care. 

Research indicates that as advances in antenatal and neonatal care lead to improved infant survival rates at younger gestational ages, managing potential neurodevelopmental challenges must be a priority (Hendson et al., 2022; Sarda et al., 2021). As the average gestational age of our NICU referrals sits at just under 27 weeks, providing care as soon as possible is our priority. The neuroplasticity of the developing brain is greatest in infancy, and every week counts when maximizing developmental potential. 

Younger gestational age and increased medical complexity is also related to increased posttraumatic stress and anxiety in families (Malouf et al., 2024) Our ability to provide consistent, compassionate care keeps families connected with the support they need as they navigate the complexities of bringing a medically fragile child home. Many of the NICU-graduates we serve have G-tubes or are receiving supplemental oxygen. 

Our priority at Ladder Health remains helping all children thrive by ensuring timely access to PT, OT, and SLP services. Whether a child is graduating from the NICU, preparing for preschool, or recently received a diagnosis, we are here for all of life’s transitions.

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References:

‍Hendson L, Church PT, Banihani R. Follow-up care of the extremely preterm infant after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Paediatr Child Health. 2022;27(6):359-371. Published 2022 Oct 3. doi:10.1093/pch/pxac058

Sarda SP, Sarri G, Siffel C. Global prevalence of long-term neurodevelopmental impairment following extremely preterm birth: a systematic literature review. J Int Med Res. 2021;49(7):3000605211028026. doi:10.1177/03000605211028026

Malouf R, Harrison S, Pilkington V, et al. Factors associated with posttraumatic stress and anxiety among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal care: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024;24(1):352. Published 2024 May 9. doi:10.1186/s12884-024-06383-5

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